A short treatise

so that a difference is to be made between the chief Author of a book, and the Instrument thereof. 1. Cor. 12. 3. Mat. 10. 20. 8. The substance of doctrine necessary to salvation contained in Scripture, is to be believed with an express, historical, and saving faith: but the number and order of books is to be believed with faith historical.

so that a difference is to be made between the cheife Author of a booke, and the Instrument thereof. 1. Cor. 12. 3. Mat. 10. 20. 8. The substance of doctrine necessarie to saluation contained in Scripture, is to be beleeued with an expresse, historicall, and sauing faith: but the number and order of bookes is to bee beleeued with faith historicall.

8. By the Church we understand not the Pope, whom the Papists call the Church virtual; nor his Bishops & Cardinals met in a general Council, whom they call the Church representative; but the whole company of believers, who have professed the true faith, whether those who received the books of holy Scripture from the Prophets and Apostles; or those who lived after. Under the name of the Church we comprehend not the Prophets and Apostles, as they were immediately chosen and called to be the penmen of holy Scripture; for they wrote not as men in the Church, but above the Church. The Church of the Jews professed the doctrine, and received the Books of the old Testament, and testified of them that they were divine. To whose testimony these things give force: 1. To them were committed the Oracles of God. Rom. 3. 2. 2. In great misery they have constantly confessed the same, when as by the only denying thereof, they might have been partakers both of liberty and rule. 3. Notwithstanding the high Priests and others persecuted the Prophets whiles they lived, yet they